The concept of plus-minus has revolutionized basketball analytics, evolving from a simple tracking method introduced by Andy Hill in the 1970s to an essential metric for evaluating player contributions. At Santa Monica College, Hill devised the Team Contribution Index, which measured how a player influenced the score during their time on the court. This transformative metric is now a staple in modern basketball, helping coaches like UCLA's Mick Cronin and the Lakers' JJ Redick assess player performance regarding winning.

Recently, Dorian Finney-Smith of the Lakers has emerged as a key player, leading the team in plus-minus thanks to his effective two-way play. Meanwhile, players like Luka Doncic and LeBron James, despite their offensive prowess, often find their plus-minus fluctuating due to team dynamics. While some analysts question the metric's reliability in small sample sizes, its importance in the aggregate remains undisputed, as evidenced by the high rankings of players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.